Lock, latch, and the like



Dec. 30, 1941. s. B. McKENZIE 2,267,939

LOCK, LATCH, AND Tim LIKE Filed June 27, 1940 3 Shaw-Sheet 1 Y INVENTORL 5 5a ue| B.MKenzie TO RNEY LOCK, LATCH, AND THE LIKE Filed June 2'7,1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ue B McKenpe' gm ATTORNEY 30, 1941- s. B;MCKENZIE LOCK, LATCH, AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V Filed June 27,1940 INVENTOR z n R e o, Kf i memes Dec. 30, 1,941

, Application rune 21, .1940, Serial No. 842,699 I at Great Britain June27, 19:9

a "4 Claims. This invention concerns improvements in locks,

latches or the like (hereinafter all referredto as and included 'in theterm latches) and has especial reference to A general object of thelnvention is to provide an improved latch operating mechanism while afurther and more particular object of the invention is to provide aself-restoring latch operating mechanism in which, after operation, theparts will return to their original positions. This is a very materialpoint in the case of latch operating mechanism employing operatingmembers or handles of lever form for these look very unsightly if theydo not come back to their-original,

usually horizontal, positiona.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide in a lock operatingmechanism in combination with the self-restoring feature, means forretaining the roses or escutcheon plates (hereinafter.

referred to as roses), in their operative positions members, therebyavoiding liability of the hands or clothing of a user being scratched ortorn by the usual fastening means and avoiding the latch 25 operatingmechanism becoming unsightly and rattling. According to one aspect ofthis invention there is provided an operating mechanism for a door ilatch including a rotatable operating spindle and a non-rotatablereaction member, interengaging restoring portions provided respectivelyon the spindle or a part carried thereby and on,'or in, the reactionmember and adapted on partial rotation of the spindle to stress aspring, whereby on the spindle being released it is automaticallycrass-s57) v a I 5 causes the said restoring portions or-the said camand follower to'be pressed continually into con "tact with one anotherand preferably acts in the operating mechanism for latches. J

a without the use of screws or equivalent fastening direction ofthe axisof the operating spindle,

such spring being stressed when the oo-operating I restoring portions orthe cam and follower separate.v

One of the restoring portions or the said cam is preferably formed in orcarried by a rose action thereon through the. medium of the operating'spindle. Thesaid spring also serves to press the rose or roses of theoperating mechanism into contact with the door upon which this mechanismis mounted, so retaining the rose or roses in position without the useof auxiliary screws or equivalent additional fastening means.

The latch operating mechanism may be ar 80- ranged either to operate thelatch solely by partial rotation of the'operating spindle or by endwisemovement of the operating spindle, or if desired bya combined rotary andendwise action of the spindle.

as One of the co-operating restoring members at restored to its initialposition relative to the reaction member.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided anoperating mechanism for a door latch including arotatableoperatingspindle, a non-rotatable reaction member, and means for restoring thespindle to its original position after partial rotation, such meanscomprising cam and follower members urged together by a spring, and oneof such members being, on the partial rotation of the spindle, displacedagainst Y the action of the said spring.

'The spring referred to above will usually be a,

metal wire spring-of helical form but a rubber element orevenblade'springs may be used in some cases and it should be unde oodthat'the expression spring" is intended to include these and likealternatives.

least is preferably-in theform of a cam having one or more V-likecam'surfaces, each V-like cam surface having two opposed helicalsurfaces while the other co-operating restoring portion is so preferablyof a very similar character but it a mechanism constructed in accordancewith this could be in the form'of a roller-or pin or other suitablefollower member.

. Further features of the invention will become apparent from thesubsequent illustrative de- 65 scription of certain embodiments of theinvention given by way of example.

In the drawings: a Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a latch operating 60invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 11-11 of I Fig; 1.

The arrangement is such that the said spring 68 Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of a portion of the lever handle shown uppermost in Fig. 2.

Fig.4 is a part sectional perspective view of the v for use where themechanism is operable from one end of the operating spindle only, and

Fig; '7 is a further horizontal sectional plan view showing a furthermodified construction of latchoperating mechanism in accordance withthis invention, and in which the operating spindle does not necessarilymove endwise when the. .spindle is rotated.

Although in Figs. 1 to 6 the latch mechanism illustrated employs anoperating member in the form of a lever it should be understood that itis not essential that the operating member shouldbe a lever. It couldfor example be a knob as is shown in Fig. 7, but the self-aligning orselfrestoring character of the latch operating mechanism is especiallysuitable for use with lever handles and therefore that form of operatingmember has been illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings.

Referring to Figs.'1 to 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the latchoperating mechanism illustrated there comprises an operating spindle Iof square cross-sectional form. This spindle is adapted to pass througha hole 2 perpendicular to the face of the door 3, and the spindle hasfixed upon one end an operating member 4 having a lever 5 projectinglaterally from the outer end of a long, more or less cylindrical orslightly conical boss 9.

At the other end of the spindle I is provided with an operating member Iwhich has a lever 9 projecting radially from the outer end of a longboss,9, and this operating member is, in outward appearance,substantially identical with the operating member 4. r

However, the operating member 'I is not permanently flxed upon thespindle I ut is adjustable thereon, having a square axial r ess I9provided in its boss 9 into which the spindle I'flts,

the operating member 'I and the spindle being secured in adjustedinterfitting relation by means of a cross pin II passing through any ginthereof, and at the back the face plate I9 is provided with one or more,in the example shown with three, spikes 2I adapted to engage in theadjacent surface of the door 3 when the rose is in use so as to preventthe rose rotating about its axis.

The inner diameter of the tubular body I6 of the rose I4 is enlargedslightly in diameter at 22 as clearly shown in Pig. 2 so as to avoid theboss 6 of the operating member 4 becoming scratched by the rose due thereciprocation of the boss relative to the rose as will subsequently bedescribed.

On the inner side of the annular flange VII of the body I6 of the roseI4 is mounted a hard metal washer 23 against which abuts one end of ahelical compression spring 24 abutting at its other end against asimilar hard metal washer 25 mounted in the wb'ottom of a cylindricalrecess 26 formed in the inner end of the boss 6 of the operating member4 and which recess 26 is coaxial with' the spindle I. As will be seenthe spring 24 is also coaxial with the spindle I and surroundsthe latterand the natural tendency of the spring, which is inserted under load, isto tend to draw the spindle I out of the rose I4 and subsequently topull the operating member 1 towards the door. At the same time thespring 24 presses the rose I4 towards the adjacent surface of the door.

The rose Iiis very similar in outward appearance and generalconstruction to the rose I4, being provided with a plate I9, a tubularbody 18', an enlarged bore 22, spikes 2| and a slightly conical rearsurface 20'. a

In this case, however, no compression spr is disposed within the roseand the construction of the inner end of the boss 9 of the operatingmember I is different to that of the boss 9 of the The inwardly directedflange II of the body II of the rose I5 carries on the surfacenearest-the operating member I ,a pair of diametrically opposed v-shapedcam pieces 21 (see Fig. 4) each having helical surfaces 29 meeting atone end at the apex 29 and terminating at the other end atdiametricallyopposed radial gaps 39 provided in the flange I1.

selected one of a, series of spacedtransverse holes of diametricallyopposite bores I3 provided in the boss 9 of the operating member I. Thepin II is very slightly less in length than the diameter of the boss 9at the position at which the pin II passes therethrough and the ends ofthe pin II are rounded off. The pin II, having once been inserted in theboss 9- and spindle I is retained in this position by the surroundingrose to be frequently described.

A- pair of roses are provided one for each side of the door 9. Theseroses are marked in the drawings respectively by general-references I4and IS. The rose I4 has a central cylindrical tubular body I9 providedat its inner end with an inwardly directed transverse flange I'Iprovided with a central hole I9 through which the spindle I freely androtatably passes.'and at the outer end the body IQ of the rose isprovided with an annular face plate l9 of any convenient andsuitable'design which is free of screw holes.

. The rear surface 29 of the face plate I9 is preferably of'slightlyconical form'so that the face plate bears-upon the door only atthe outermar- It will be seen that each of the surfaces 28 is virtually a portionof an internal screw thread arranged within the body I! of the rose andthat these cam surfaces are arranged around the central axis of theoperating spindle I and each surface 29 is oblique with respect to theaxis of the spindle I. 4

Instead of the cam pieces 21 being formed integrally'with the body I9and flange II of the rose II they can be formed-on a separate membermounted upon the said flange I'I' if desired.

The end of the boss 9 of the operating member I adjacent the cam pieces'21 of the rose II is provided with a pair of diametrically opposedV-shaped recesses generally indicated by the references ll and 92. therecess if being formed of a pair of similar helical surfaces 93 meetingat a radial recess 34 in the operating member boss 9. and the otherrecess 22 being formed 'of a pair c'esses SI and 92 of the boss I of theop rating member I that when the operating levers and I are in theirnormal horizontal (or other ally and either the rotation or. the axialmovepredetermined position) the peaks 99 and 91 of rose I4 engaged withthe door, the rose i9 is then threaded upon the spindle at the oppositeside of the door to the rose it and endwise pressure towards the rose I9is exerted on the operating member a and spindle I so compressing thespring 24. Then the operating member I is mounted upon the spindle l andset .thereon in the appropriate position after which the pin II isthreaded through the bores I9 in the boss 9 of the'operating member Iand through theselected cross bore I2 of the spindle I so looking thespindle I and the operating member I together. It should be understood,of course, that the pin I1 is inserted into the boresl3 of theboss 9 Iand into the appropriate cross bore H of the spindle I while these boresare disposed outside the tubular body l9 of the rose I and while thespring 24 is still compressed, and it is not until the pin ll is fullyhome that the axial pressure on the operating member 4 and spindle I isreleased, so permitting the spindle l to move axially under the actionof the spring 24 in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 2), so pullingthe cam surface bearing end of the boss 9 of the operating member I intoengagement with the cam pieces 21 of the rose I5 and the pin II withinthe rose into a position as shown in Fig. 2 where it cannot accidentlyfall out.

It will be seen that not only does the spring 24 press the rose I4 on tothe surface 01' the door but it also, through the action of the spindleI and the connection of the latter with the boss 9 of the operatingmember I, pulls the rose IE on to the opposite face ofthe door. and soboth roses are urged into and held in contact with the opposite faces ofthe door automatically without the $8 of any securing screws.

The helic'a cam faces 29 and the co-operating faces 99 and 35 of the camrecesses 3| and 92 in the boss of the operating member I are or ratherlarge pitch and it will be clearly understood that, assuming the partsare initially in theposition shown in Figs. land 2, on partiallyrotating the spindle l by means of either of the operating members 4 orI the peaks 99 and 91 of the boss 9 of the operating member I will leavethe radial gaps of the rose' I5 and ride up the cam sur-,

faces 28 of the cam pieces 21 irrespective of whether the operatingmember is turned in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, and thus thespindle I will be caused to move axially in thedirection of the arrow B(Fig. 2) so compressing the spring 24 which will. as soon as theoperating member by which the spindle has been turnedds released, cause.through the medium of the interengaging cam surfaces of the boss 9 and10 rose IS, the operating members to return to their initial positionsand become temporarily locked in these positions through theinterengagement of the peaks 39 in the radial gaps 99.

Thus in this construction the spindle i not.

3 only makes a partial rotation but it moves aximent of the spindle, orthe combination of both "movements, may be used to operate the latchmechanism whichever appears to be more appropriate for the particularlatch mechanism.

It will be understood that the bosses 9 and 9 of the operating members 6and I slide axially In the modified construction or latch operatingmechanism shown in Fig. 5 all the parts with the exception of the rosesare the same as those described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and theonly way in which this construction differs from that previouslydescribed lies in the fact that the tubular bodies It and I8" of the"roses extend outwardly from the face plates I9 and I9 oi. the rosesinstead of inwardly, this arrangement being employed so as to avoid thenecessity for drilling such a large hole as the hole 2 shown in Fig. 2in the door, this hole in the construction shownin Fig. 5 being replacedby one of much smaller diameter and marked 2'. f v

In Fig. 8 a modified arrangement is described which is in all respectsthe same as that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 with oneexception, namely, that the construction shown in Fig. 6 is intended foruse on a cupboard door where a handle is not necessary on the inside ofthe door and therefore the operating member I of the arrangementdescribed. in Figs. 1 to 4 is replaced by a boss 38 constructed at itsinner end. precisely like-the inner end of the boss 9 of the operatingmember I and co-operating with the rose Ili exactly in the same way asthe operating member 1. In some cases it may be undesirable for thespindle I to have an axial sliding movement and in the modifiedarrangement shown in Fig. 7 means are provided to produce the sameresults as those obtained with the constructions described withreference to Figs. 1 to 6 but with out the necessity of the axialmovement of the operating spindle taking Place. a

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 the operatingspindle 39 (corresponding to the previously described spindle I) carriesan operating knob 40 at oneend and a similar operating knob 4| at theopposite end, the knob 49 being fixed to the spindle 99 and theoperating knob 4! being adJustably mounted on the spindle by means of apin 42 passing diametrically through-a cylindrical boss 49 provided onthekn'ob and through any selected one of a plurality of spacedtransverse bores 44 provided in the operating spindle 99. The knob 40has a central long cylindrical tubular boss 49. coaxial with the spindle39 and rotatably mounted in the tubular body 46 of a rose. 41,

while the central boss 43 of the knob 4| rotatably fits into the tubularbody 99 of the rose 49. The tubular body 49 of the rose 48 has at itsinner end an inwardly directed annular flange 59 against which the innerend of the boss 43 and a plurality of spikes 59 and these roses func-' Ition and are retained in position on the door in substantially the 'samemanner as that described with reference to the other constructions ofthe invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6.

The tubular body 45 of the rose 41. isalso prothe square spindle 39passes freely, the arrangement being that the sleeve rotates with but isaxially slidable upon the spindle 39. A helical compression spring 58housed within the tubular boss 45 of the knob 48 and surrounding thespindle 39 engages at oneend against the outer end of the slidable camsleeve 51 and at the opposite and against the inner surface of the knob48 and this spring is under compression so that it always urges the camsleeve 51 in a direction along the spindle 39 towards the knob 4 I.

The cam sleeve 51 is, at the end remote from the knob 40, provided witha pair of diametrically opposite V-s'haped recesses 59 in whichrespectively engage the V-shaped cam pieces 55 and 56 of the rose 41.The cam surfaces of the cam pieces 55 and 58 and the cam surfaces 39 ofthe cam sleeve 51 are preferably each formed by a part of a helix oflarge pitch and corresurfaces of the cam pieces 55 and 56 of thestationary reaction member or rose 41 and the cam' sleeve will thereforebe caused to slide along vided at its inner end with an inwardlydirected all and in that case the method of attaching the knob 4| wouldhave to be by means of a grub screworby some other means other than thatshown. However, the strength of. the spring 58 may, if desired, be suchthat even with the clearance shown-in Fig. '7 between the tubular boss45.'and the rose flange 54, the spindle cannot be moved endwise withoutexerting considerably more force than would usually be exerted upon thespindle 39 and the knob 48.-

It will clearly be seen that in each embodiment I of the inventiondescribed the cam surfaces and the spring cooperating therewith arecompletely housed within the roses and operating members and thecomplete door furniture is of a neat external appearance.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be underother boss, a cooperating cam surface formed-bosses in their respective roses takes place, and

when rotative movement has ceased, the bosses are returned to theiroriginal initial position.

2. An operating mechanism for a door latch comprising, two roses spacedapart and'arranged.

hollow boss rotatably and slidably mounted in one of the roses, a secondhollow boss provided with an operating handle mounted on the other endof the non-cylindrical member and and yieldthe spindle 39 towards theknob 48 and will so compress the spring 58 whereby, on the knob whichhas been held to turn the spindle being released, the spring 58 willtend to expand and through the co-operation of the cam surfaces referredto cause the spindle 39 to return to its original position in which itwill be generally held in the same way as the spindle I is positioned inits original position and as previously described.

It will be understood that in the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 the roses41 and 48 are retained against the surfaces of the door by the action ofthe spring 58 just as the roses l4 and I5 are retained against thedoorby the spring 24 previously described.

In Fig. 7 the inner end of the tubular boss 45 of the knob 41 is shownto be spaced somewhat ably and slidably mounted in the other said rose,1 cooperating cam surfaces mounted on the last.

said boss and on the rosein which it is rotatably and slidably mounted,a spring member houseddrical shaft, a hollow boss provided with an op.-

from'the inwardly directed annular flange 54 of the body 46 of the rose.This clearance is left so that the spindle can be moved axially bypushing on the knob 48 or by pulling on the knob M if desired for thepurpose of operating alatch, but if only the rotation of the spindle 59is to be used for operating the latch then the tubular boss 45 may beatupon the flange 54 so as to prevent any axial movement of the spindle atboss, said spring member yieldingly holding the cooperating members inengagement with each other, and whereby upon the rotation of either ofthe bosses there is imparted a simultaneous axial movement of the bossesand tensioning of said spring member, and upon release of the ro-.tating effect the tension of the spring returns the bosses to theirinitial position.

4. An operating mechanism for a door latch comprising, a rose secured toone side of a door and having a central hollow portion extending throughthe hole in the door and outward beyond the limits of the other face ofthe door, a second rose secured to the opposite face of the door inaxial alignment with the first said rose and having a central portionextending into the hole in the door, a, second bosshaving one end housedin said second rose and capable of axial and rotary movement withrespect thereto, a cam surface formed on the inner end of said lastnamed rose, said second boss secured to the other end of thenon-cylindrical member, said second boss being provided with cam memberswhich cooperate with the cam surfaces on the said last named rose andoperate only on one of said bosses whereby the bosses may be rotated andhave imparted thereto a longitudinal movement whichtensions the saidspring and upon release of the pressure on the operating mechanism thebosses are returned to their initial position by said spring.

SAMUEL BARTLETT MCKENZIE;

